Popular YA authors like Rick Riordan have created a new interest in mythology. The study of classic myths was always a part of high school curriculum but now has reached a zenith with students who are discovering ancient gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines.

And just in time there have been some useful reference books on the topic. These books are not a retelling of the tales. Instead these two works contain scholarly signed articles ranging in length from one to eight pages. The first paragraph of each entry contains a short "ready reference" introduction to the subject and simply tells the main claim to fame, parentage, and importance. The bulk of the entry provides details about the stories, scholarly comparison of figures in other cultures, and speculates on the importance of the figure. Each volume is lushly illustrated with 270 color photographs of classic statues and paintings from the Renaissance through modern times. Since the topics of the entries are so unique, the entries do not have a standard format and the user will have to hunt to find specific information on topics such as the literary importance of the god or variant accounts but the hunt is worth it and they will be rewarded with enough background information to begin a term paper. …